An Epic Celebration of Barbecue Greatness

Our Story

The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is the nation’s largest culinary and music festival dedicated to the best in barbecue. Celebrating its 16th Anniversary, this beloved weekend-long event welcomes over 130,000 guests annually from across the city, and the country. Enjoy mouthwatering ’cue from the world’s most celebrated Chefs and Pitmasters. Throw in the beer, wine, and great live music – all set against this stunning Manhattan backdrop – and you’ll find yourself at the ultimate summer street party.

Founded in 2002 by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group and Chef Kenny Callaghan, the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party exists to bring America’s most destination-worthy barbecue to the heart of New York City. What began as a small, single-street soirée 16 years back, is now a blockbuster annual affair that stretches across a handful of city blocks in, and around, Madison Square Park. For one weekend each June, the city is truly transformed. Madison Avenue shuts down as a parade of BBQ rigs descend on the Flatiron – overalls and Stetson hats, galore – where the top Pit Crews set up camp to smoke their award-winning whole hogs, ribs, brisket, and the like through the night, and serve happy hordes of barbecue lovers all day.

And it’s all for a good cause…

In addition to all the wonderfully transporting sites, smells, tastes, and sounds, guests can feel good about the event’s charitable mission, with proceeds benefitting the Madison Square Park Conservancy. Since inception, over $1Million has been donated to Madison Square Park Conservancy to support its beautiful gardens, amenities, and world-class art and civic programming.